The Holy War by John Bunyan

Its easy to link to paragraphs in the Full Text ArchiveIf this page contains some material that you want to link to but you don't want your visitors to have to scroll down the whole page just hover your mouse over the relevent paragraph and click the bookmark icon that appears to the left of it. The address of that paragraph will appear in the address bar of your browser. For further details about how you can link to the Full Text Archive please refer to our linking page.

The Holy War: Updated, Modern English. More than 100 Original Illustrations.

The Holy War: In Modern English

The Holy War

The Holy War

The Holy War: The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul

The Holy War: The Holy War Made by Shaddi Upon Diabolus for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World or the Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul

The Holy War In Modern English

Holy War

[ The Holy War [ THE HOLY WAR ] By Bunyan, John ( Author )Jan-05-2009 Hardcover

bonny and blithe, and so make you more fit for us, feastingcompanions.'

Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied, 'Sir, I thankyou for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial I haveno list thereto. But a word to the natives of Mansoul: You, theelders and chief of Mansoul, to me it is strange to see you sojocund and merry, when the town of Mansoul is in such woeful case.'

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, 'You want sleep, good air, I doubt.If you please, lie down, and take a nap, and we meanwhile will bemerry.'

Then said the good man as follows: 'Sir, if you were not destituteof an honest heart, you could not do as you have done and do.'

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, 'Why?'

Godly. Nay, pray interrupt me not. It is true the town of Mansoulwas strong, and, with a proviso, impregnable; but you, thetownsmen, have weakened it, and it now lies obnoxious to its foes.Nor is it a time to flatter, or be silent; it is you, Mr. Carnal-Security, that have wilily stripped Mansoul, and driven her gloryfrom her; you have pulled down her towers, you have broken down hergates, you have spoiled her locks and bars.

And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords ofMansoul, and you, sir, grew so great, from that time the Strengthof Mansoul has been offended, and now he is arisen and is gone. Ifany shall question the truth of my words, I will answer him bythis, and suchlike questions. 'Where is the Prince Emmanuel? Whendid a man or woman in Mansoul see him? When did you hear from him,or taste any of his dainty bits?' You are now a feasting with thisDiabolonian monster, but he is not your Prince. I say, therefore,though enemies from without, had you taken heed, could not havemade a prey of you, yet since you have sinned against your Prince,your enemies within have been too hard for you.

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, 'Fie! fie! Mr. Godly-Fear, fie!--will you never shake off your timorousness? Are you afraid ofbeing sparrow-blasted? Who hath hurt you? Behold, I am on yourside; only you are for doubting, and I am for being confident.Besides, is this a time to be sad in? A feast is made for mirth;why, then, do you now, to your shame, and our trouble, break outinto such passionate melancholy language, when you should eat anddrink, and be merry?'

Then said Mr. Godly-Fear again, 'I may well be sad, for Emmanuel isgone from Mansoul. I say again, he is gone, and you, sir, are theman that has driven him away; yea, he is gone without so much asacquainting the nobles of Mansoul with his going; and if that isnot a sign of his anger, I am not acquainted with the methods ofgodliness.

'And now, my lords and gentlemen, for my speech is still to you,your gradual declining from him did provoke him gradually to departfrom you, the which he did for some time, if perhaps you would havebeen made sensible thereby, and have been renewed by humblingyourselves; but when he saw that none would regard, nor lay thesefearful beginnings of his anger and judgment to heart, he went awayfrom this place; and this I saw with mine eye. Wherefore now,while you boast, your strength is gone; you are like the man thathad lost his locks that before did wave about his shoulders. Youmay, with this lord of your feast, shake yourselves, and concludeto do as at other times; but since without him you can do nothing,and he is departed from you, turn your feast into a sigh, and yourmirth into lamentation.'

Then the subordinate preacher, old Mr. Conscience by name, he thatof old was Recorder of Mansoul, being startled at what was said,began to second it thus:-

'Indeed, my brethren,' quoth he, 'I fear that Mr. Godly-Fear tellsus true: I, for my part, have not seen my Prince a long season. Icannot remember the day, for my part; nor can I answer Mr. Godly-Fear's question. I doubt, I am afraid that all is nought withMansoul.'

Godly. Nay, I know that you shall not find him in Mansoul, for heis departed and gone; yea, and gone for the faults of the elders,and for that they rewarded his grace with unsufferable unkindness.

Then did the subordinate preacher look as if he would fall downdead at the table; also all there present, except the man of thehouse, began to look pale and wan. But having a little recoveredthemselves, and jointly agreeing to believe Mr. Godly-Fear and hissayings, they began to consult what was best to be done, (now Mr.Carnal-Security was gone into his withdrawing-room, for he likednot such dumpish doings,) both to the man of the house for drawingthem into evil, and also to recover Emmanuel's love.

And, with that, that saying of their Prince came very hot intotheir minds, which he had bidden them do to such as were falseprophets that should arise to delude the town of Mansoul. So theytook Mr. Carnal-Security (concluding that he must be he) and burnedhis house upon him with fire; for he also was a Diabolonian bynature.

So when this was passed and over, they bespeed themselves to lookfor Emmanuel their Prince; and they sought him, but they found himnot. Then were they more confirmed in the truth of Mr. Godly-Fear's sayings, and began also severely to reflect upon themselvesfor their so vile and ungodly doings; for they concluded now thatit was through them that their Prince had left them.

Then they agreed and went to my Lord Secretary, (him whom beforethey refused to hear--him whom they had grieved with their doings,)to know of him, for he was a seer, and could tell where Emmanuelwas, and how they might direct a petition to him. But the LordSecretary would not admit them to a conference about this matter,nor would admit them to his royal place of abode, nor come out tothem to show them his face or intelligence.

And now was it a day gloomy and dark, a day of clouds and of thickdarkness with Mansoul. Now they saw that they had been foolish,and began to perceive what the company and prattle of Mr. Carnal-Security had done, and what desperate damage his swaggering wordshad brought poor Mansoul into. But what further it was likely tocost them they were ignorant of. Now Mr. Godly-Fear began again tobe in repute with the men of the town; yea, they were ready to lookupon him as a prophet.

Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear theirsubordinate preacher; but oh, how he did thunder and lighten thisday! His text was that in the prophet Jonah: 'They that observelying vanities forsake their own mercy.' But there was then suchpower and authority in that sermon, and such a dejection seen inthe countenances of the people that day, that the like hath seldombeen heard or seen. The people, when sermon was done, were scarceable to go to their homes, or to betake themselves to their employsthe week after; they were so sermon-smitten, and also so sermon-sick by being smitten, that they knew not what to do.

He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremble beforethem, under the sense of his own, still crying out of himself, ashe preached to them, 'Unhappy man that I am! that I should do sowicked a thing! That I, a preacher! whom the Prince did set up toteach to Mansoul his law, should myself live senseless andsottishly here, and be one of the first found in transgression!This transgression also fell within my precincts; I should havecried out against the wickedness; but I let Mansoul lie wallowingin it, until it had driven Emmanuel from its borders!' With thesethings he also charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to thealmost distracting of them.

About this time, also, there was a great sickness in the town ofMansoul, and most of the inhabitants were greatly afflicted. Yea,the captains also, and men of war, were brought thereby to alanguishing condition, and that for a long time together; so thatin case of an invasion, nothing could to purpose now have beendone, either by the townsmen or field officers. Oh, how many palefaces, weak hands, feeble knees, and staggering men were now seento walk the streets of Mansoul! Here were groans, there pants, andyonder lay those that were ready to faint.

The garments, too, which Emmanuel had given them were but in asorry case; some were rent, some were torn, and all in a nastycondition; some also did hang so loosely upon them, that the nextbush they came at was ready to pluck them off.

After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, thesubordinate preacher called for a day of fasting, and to humblethemselves for being so wicked against the great Shaddai and hisSon. And he desired that Captain Boanerges would preach. So heconsented to do it; and the day being come, and his text was this,'Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?' And a very smartsermon he made upon the place. First, he showed what was theoccasion of the words, namely, because the fig-tree was barren;then he showed what was contained in the sentence, namely,repentance, or utter desolation. He then showed, also, by whoseauthority this sentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddaihimself. And, lastly, he showed the reasons of the point, and thenconcluded his sermon. But he was very pertinent in theapplication, insomuch that he made poor Mansoul tremble. For thissermon, as well as the former, wrought much upon the hearts of themen of Mansoul; yea, it greatly helped to keep awake those thatwere roused by the preaching that went before. So that nowthroughout the whole town, there was little or nothing to be heardor seen but sorrow, and mourning, and woe.

Now, after sermon, they got together and consulted what was best tobe done. 'But,' said the subordinate preacher, 'I will do nothingof mine own head, without advising with my neighbour Mr. Godly-Fear. For if he had aforehand understood more of the mind of ourPrince than we, I do not know but he also may have it now, even nowwe are turning again to virtue.'

So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwithappeared. Then they desired that he would further show his opinionabout what they had best to do. Then said the old gentleman asfolloweth: 'It is my opinion that this town of Mansoul should, inthis day of her distress, draw up and send an humble petition totheir offended Prince Emmanuel, that he, in his favour and grace,will turn again unto you, and not keep anger for ever.'

When the townsmen had heard this speech, they did, with oneconsent, agree to his advice; so they did presently draw up theirrequest, and the next was, But who shall carry it? At last theydid all agree to send it by my Lord Mayor. So he accepted of theservice, and addressed himself to his journey; and went and came tothe court of Shaddai, whither Emmanuel the Prince of Mansoul wasgone. But the gate was shut, and a strict watch kept thereat; sothat the petitioner was forced to stand without for a great whiletogether. Then he desired that some would go into the Prince andtell him who stood at the gate, and what his business was. So onewent and told to Shaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the LordMayor of the town of Mansoul stood without at the gate of theKing's court, desiring to be admitted into the presence of thePrince, the King's Son. He also told what was the Lord Mayor'serrand, both to the King and his Son Emmanuel. But the Princewould not come down, nor admit that the gate should be opened tohim, but sent him an answer to this effect: 'They have turnedtheir back unto me, and not their face; but now in the time oftheir trouble they say to me, Arise, and save us. But can they notnow go to Mr. Carnal-Security, to whom they went when they turnedfrom me, and make him their leader, their lord, and theirprotection now in their trouble; why now in their trouble do theyvisit me, since in their prosperity they went astray?'

The answer made my Lord Mayor look black in the face; it troubled,it perplexed, it rent him sore. And now he began again to see whatit was to be familiar with Diabolonians, such as Mr. Carnal-Security was. When he saw that at court, as yet, there was littlehelp to be expected, either for himself or friends in Mansoul, hesmote upon his breast, and returned weeping, and all the waybewailing the lamentable state of Mansoul.

Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders andchief of the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to meet him,and to salute him, and to know how he sped at court. But he toldthem his tale in so doleful a manner, that they all cried out, andmourned, and wept. Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon theirheads, and put sackcloth upon their loins, and went crying outthrough the town of Mansoul; the which, when the rest of thetownsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept. This, therefore, was aday of rebuke and trouble, and of anguish to the town of Mansoul,and also of great distress.

After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves, theycame together to consult again what by them was yet to be done; andthey asked advice, as they did before, of that reverend Mr. Godly-Fear, who told them that there was no way better than to do as theyhad done, nor would he that they should be discouraged at all withthat they had met with at court; yea, though several of theirpetitions should be answered with nought but silence or rebuke:'For,' said he, 'it is the way of the wise Shaddai to make men waitand to exercise patience, and it should be the way of them in want,to be willing to stay his leisure.

Then they took courage, and sent again and again, and again, andagain; for there was not now one day, nor an hour that went overMansoul's head, wherein a man might not have met upon the road oneor other riding post, sounding the horn from Mansoul to the courtof the King Shaddai; and all with letters petitionary in behalf of,and for the Prince's return to Mansoul. The road, I say, was nowfull of messengers, going and returning, and meeting one another;some from the court, and some from Mansoul; and this was the workof the miserable town of Mansoul, all that long, that sharp, thatcold and tedious winter.

Now if you have not forgot, you may yet remember that I told youbefore, that after Emmanuel had taken Mansoul, yea, and after thathe had new modelled the town, there remained in several lurkingplaces of the corporation many of the old Diabolonians, that eithercame with the tyrant when he invaded and took the town, or that hadthere, by reason of unlawful mixtures, their birth and breeding,and bringing up. And their holes, dens, and lurking places werein, under, or about the wall of the town. Some of their names arethe Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the LordAnger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye,the Lord Blasphemy, and that horrible villain, the old anddangerous Lord Covetousness. These, as I told you, with many more,had yet their abode in the town of Mansoul, and that after thatEmmanuel had driven their prince Diabolus out of the castle.

Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the LordWillbewill and others, yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, to seek,take, secure, and destroy any or all that they could lay hands of,for that they were Diabolonians by nature, enemies to the Prince,and those that sought to ruin the blessed town of Mansoul. But thetown of Mansoul did not pursue this warrant, but neglected to lookafter, to apprehend, to secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians.Wherefore what do these villains but by degrees take courage to putforth their heads, and to show themselves to the inhabitants of thetown. Yea, and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew toofamiliar with some of them, to the sorrow of the corporation, asyou yet will hear more of in time and place.

Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived thatMansoul had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, andthat he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plotthe ruin of the town of Mansoul. So upon a time they met togetherat the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was also a Diabolonian, andthere consulted how they might deliver up Mansoul into the hands ofDiabolus again. Now some advised one way, and some another, everyman according to his own liking. At last my Lord Lasciviousnesspropounded, whether it might not be best, in the first place, forsome of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to adventure tooffer themselves for servants to some of the natives of the town;'for,' said he, 'if they so do, and Mansoul shall accept of them,they may for us, and for Diabolus our Lord, make the taking of thetown of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it will be.' But thenstood up the Lord Murder, and said, 'This may not be done at thistime; for Mansoul is now in a kind of a rage, because by ourfriend, Mr. Carnal-Security, she hath been once ensnared already,and made to offend against her Prince; and how shall she reconcileherself unto her lord again, but by the heads of these men?Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and slay uswherever they shall find us; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes:when we are dead, we can do them no hurt; but while we live, wemay.' Thus, when they had tossed the matter to and fro, theyjointly agreed that a letter should forthwith be sent away toDiabolus in their name, by which the state of the town of Mansoulshould be showed him, and how much it is under the frowns of theirPrince. 'We may also,' said some, 'let him know our intentions,and ask of him his advice in the case.'

'O great father, and mighty Prince Diabolus, we, the trueDiabolonians yet remaining in the rebellious town of Mansoul,having received our beings from thee, and our nourishment at thyhands, cannot with content and quiet endure to behold, as we dothis day, how thou art dispraised, disgraced, and reproached amongthe inhabitants of this town; nor is thy long absence at alldelightful to us, because greatly to our detriment.

'The reason of this our writing unto our lord, is for that we arenot altogether without hope that this town may become thyhabitation again; for it is greatly declined from its PrinceEmmanuel; and he is uprisen, and is departed from them: yea, andthough they send, and send, and send, and send after him to returnto them, yet can they not prevail, nor get good words from him.

'There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very greatsickness and fainting among them; and that not only upon the poorersort of the town, but upon the lords, captains, and chief gentry ofthe place, (we only who are of the Diabolonians by nature remainwell, lively, and strong,) so that through their greattransgression on the one hand, and their dangerous sickness on theother, we judge they lie open to thy hand and power. If,therefore, it shall stand with thy horrible cunning, and with thecunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make anattempt to take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to ourutmost power be ready to deliver it into thy hand. Or if what wehave said shall not by thy fatherhood be thought best and most meetto be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are all readyto follow thy counsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what elsewe have.

'Given under our hands the day and date above-written, after aclose consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who yet is aliveand hath his place in our desirable town of Mansoul.'

When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with his letterto Hell-Gate Hill, he knocked at the brazen gates for entrance.Then did Cerberus, the porter, for he is the keeper of that gate,open to Mr. Profane, to whom he delivered his letter, which he hadbrought from the Diabolonians in Mansoul. So he carried it in, andpresented it to Diabolus his lord, and said, 'Tidings, my lord,from Mansoul, from our trusty friends in Mansoul.'

Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub, Lucifer,Apollyon, with the rest of the rabblement there, to hear what newsfrom Mansoul. So the letter was broken up and read, and Cerberushe stood by. When the letter was openly read, and the contentsthereof spread into all the corners of the den, command was giventhat, without let or stop, dead-man's bell should be rung for joy.So the bell was rung, and the princes rejoiced that Mansoul waslikely to come to ruin. Now, the clapper of the bell went, 'Thetown of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us: make room for the townof Mansoul.' This bell therefore they did ring, because they didhope that they should have Mansoul again.

Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they gottogether again to consult what answer to send to their friends inMansoul; and some advised one thing, and some another: but atlength, because the business required haste, they left the wholebusiness to the prince Diabolus, judging him the most proper lordof the place. So he drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answerto what Mr. Profane had brought, and sent it to the Diaboloniansthat did dwell in Mansoul, by the same hand that had brought theirsto him; and these were the contents thereof:-

'To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet dwellin the town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Mansoul,wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those many braveenterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your love andrespect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do againstMansoul. Beloved children and disciples, my Lord Fornication,Adultery, and the rest, we have here, in our desolate den,received, to our highest joy and content, your welcome letter, bythe hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable yourtidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced asmuch as we could, when we perceived that yet we had friends inMansoul, and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin ofthe town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in adegenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince,and that he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does alsoyour health, might, and strength. Glad also would we be, righthorribly beloved, could we get this town into our clutches again.Nor will we be sparing of spending our wit, our cunning, our craft,and hellish inventions to bring to a wished conclusion this yourbrave beginning in order thereto.

'And take this for your comfort, (our birth, and our offspring,)that shall we again surprise it and take it, we will attempt to putall your foes to the sword, and will make you the great lords andcaptains of the place. Nor need you fear, if ever we get it again,that we after that shall be cast out any more; for we will comewith more strength, and so lay far more fast hold than at the firstwe did. Besides, it is the law of that Prince that now they own,that if we get them a second time, they shall be ours for ever.

'Do you, therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet more pry into, andendeavour to spy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We alsowould that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more.Send us word also by what means you think we had best to attemptthe regaining thereof: namely, whether by persuasion to a vain andloose life; or, whether by tempting them to doubt and despair; or,whether by blowing up of the town by the gunpowder of pride, andself-conceit. Do you also, O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sonsof the pit, be always in a readiness to make a most hideous assaultwithin, when we shall be ready to storm it without. Now speed youin your project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of ourgates, which is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy,and him that trembles when he thinks of judgment to come. All theblessings of the pit be upon you, and so we close up our letter.

'Given at the pit's mouth, by the joint consent of all the princesof darkness, to be sent, to the force and power that we have yetremaining in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus.'

This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to the Diaboloniansthat yet remained there, and that yet inhabited the wall, from thedark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom theyalso in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, when this Mr. Profanehad made his return, and was come to Mansoul again, he went andcame as he was wont to the house of Mr. Mischief, for there was theconclave, and the place where the contrivers were met. Now, whenthey saw that their messenger was returned safe and sound, theywere greatly gladded thereat. Then he presented them with hisletter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, whenthey had read and considered, did much augment their gladness.They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as how theirLord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of thoseof the den. To which this Profane made answer, 'Well, well, mylords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. Theyalso,' said he, 'did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, asyou well perceived by this when you read it.'

Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, and perceivedthat it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way ofcontriving again, namely, how they might complete their Diaboloniandesign upon Mansoul. And the first thing that they agreed upon wasto keep all things from Mansoul as close as they could. 'Let itnot be known, let not Mansoul be acquainted with what we designagainst it.' The next thing was, how, or by what means, theyshould try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul; andone said after this manner, and another said after that. Thenstood up Mr. Deceit, and said, 'My right Diabolonian friends, ourlords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, do propound unto usthese three ways.

'1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by making Mansoul looseand vain.

'2. Or whether by driving them to doubt and despair.

'3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by the gunpowder ofpride and self-conceit.

'Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may dosomething; and if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. But,in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation, that wouldknock the nail on the head; for then we should have them, in thefirst place, question the truth of the love of the heart of theirPrince towards them, and that will disgust him much. This, if itworks well, will make them leave off quickly their way of sendingpetitions to him; then farewell earnest solicitations for help andsupply; for then this conclusion lies naturally before them, "Asgood do nothing, as do to no purpose."' So to Mr. Deceit theyunanimously did consent.

Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring this ourproject to pass? and it was answered by the same gentleman--thatthis might be the best way to do it: 'Even let,' quoth he, 'somany of our friends as are willing to venture themselves for thepromoting of their prince's cause, disguise themselves withapparel, change their names, and go into the market like farcountry-men, and proffer to let themselves for servants to thefamous town of Mansoul, and let them pretend to do for theirmasters as beneficially as may be; for by so doing they may, ifMansoul shall hire them, in little time so corrupt and defile thecorporation, that her now Prince shall be not only further offendedwith them, but in conclusion shall spue them out of his mouth. Andwhen this is done, our prince Diabolus shall prey upon them withease: yea, of themselves they shall fall into the mouth of thecater.'

This project was no sooner propounded, but was as highly accepted,and forward were all Diabolonians now to engage in so delicate anenterprise: but it was not thought fit that all should do thus;wherefore they pitched upon two or three, namely, the LordCovetousness, the Lord Lasciviousness, and the Lord Anger. TheLord Covetousness called himself by the name of Prudent-Thrifty;the Lord Lasciviousness called himself by the name of Harmless-Mirth; and the Lord Anger called himself by the name of Good-Zeal.

So upon a market-day they came into the market-place, three lustyfellows they were to look on, and they were clothed in sheep'srusset, which was also now in a manner as white as were the whiterobes of the men of Mansoul. Now the men could speak the languageof Mansoul well. So when they were come into the market-place, andhad offered to let themselves to the townsmen, they were presentlytaken up; for they asked but little wages, and promised to do theirmasters great service.

Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hired Good-Zeal.True, this fellow Harmless-Mirth did hang a little in hand, andcould not so soon get him a master as the others did, because thetown of Mansoul was now in Lent, but after a while, because Lentwas almost out, the Lord Willbewill hired Harmless-Mirth to be bothhis waiting man and his lackey: and thus they got them masters.

These villains now being got thus far into the houses of the menof Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein; for, beingfilthy, arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the families wherethey were; yea, they tainted their masters much, especially thisPrudent-Thrifty, and him they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he thatwent under the visor of Good-Zeal, was not so well liked of hismaster; for he quickly found that he was but a counterfeit rascal;the which when the fellow perceived, with speed he made his escapefrom the house, or I doubt not but his master had hanged him.

Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried on their design,and had corrupted the town as much as they could, in the next placethey considered with themselves at what time their prince Diaboluswithout, and themselves within the town, should make an attempt toseize upon Mansoul; and they all agreed upon this, that a market-day would be best for that work; for why? Then will the townsfolkbe busy in their ways: and always take this for a rule, whenpeople are most busy in the world, they least fear a surprise. 'Wealso then,' said they, 'shall be able with less suspicion to gatherourselves together for the work of our friends and lords; yea, andin such a day, if we shall attempt our work, and miss it, we may,when they shall give us the rout, the better hide ourselves in thecrowd, and escape.'

These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wrote anotherletter to Diabolus, and sent it by the hand to Mr. Profane, thecontents of which were these:-

'The lords of Looseness send to the great and high Diabolus fromour dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in and about the wall ofthe town of Mansoul, greeting:

'Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives, Diabolus--how gladwe were when we heard of your fatherhood's readiness to comply withus, and help forward our design in our attempts to ruin Mansoul,none can tell but those who, as we do, set themselves against allappearance of good, when and wheresoever we find it.

'Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to giveus to continue to devise, contrive, and study the utter desolationof Mansoul, that we are not solicitous about: for we know rightwell that it cannot but be pleasing and profitable to us to see ourenemies, and them that seek our lives, die at our feet, or flybefore us. We therefore are still contriving, and that to the bestof our cunning, to make this work most facile and easy to yourlordships, and to us.

'First, we considered of that most hellishly cunning, compacted,threefold project, that by you was propounded to us in your last;and have concluded, that though to blow them up with the gunpowderof pride would do well, and to do it by tempting them to be looseand vain will help on, yet to contrive to bring them into the gulfof desperation, we think will do best of all. Now we, who are atyour beck, have thought or two ways to do this: first we, for ourparts, will make them as vile as we can, and then you with us, at atime appointed, shall be ready to fall upon them with the utmostforce. And of all the nations that are at your whistle, we thinkthat an army of doubters may be the most likely to attack andovercome the town of Mansoul. Thus shall we overcome theseenemies, else the pit shall open her mouth upon them, anddesperation shall thrust them down into it. We have also, toeffect this so much by us desired design, sent already three of ourtrusty Diabolonians among them; they are disguised in garb, theyhave changed their names, and are now accepted of them; namely,Covetousness, Lasciviousness, and Anger. The name of Covetousnessis changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and isalmost become as bad as our friend. Lasciviousness has changed hisname to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the Lord Willbewill'slackey; but he has made his master very wanton. Anger changed hisname into Good-Zeal, and was entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; but thepeevish old gentleman took pepper in the nose, and turned ourcompanion out of his house. Nay, he has informed us since that heran away from him, or else his old master had hanged him up for hislabour.

'Now these have much helped forward our work and design uponMansoul; for notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsome temper ofthe old gentleman last mentioned, the other two ply their businesswell, and are likely to ripen the work apace.

'Our next project is, that it be concluded that you come upon thetown upon a market-day, and that when they are upon the heat oftheir business; for then, to be sure, they will be most secure, andleast think that an assault will be made upon them. They will alsoat such a time be less able to defend themselves, and to offend youin the prosecution of our design. And we your trusty (and we aresure your beloved) ones shall, when you shall make your furiousassault without, be ready to second the business within. So shallwe, in all likelihood, be able to put Mansoul to utter confusion,and to swallow them up before they can come to themselves. If yourserpentine heads, most subtile dragons, and our highly esteemedlords can find out a better way than this, let us quickly know yourminds.

'To the monsters of the infernal cave, from the house of Mr.Mischief in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane.'

Now all the while that the raging runagates and hellishDiabolonians were thus contriving the ruin of the town of Mansoul,they (namely, the poor town itself) was in a sad and woeful case;partly because they had so grievously offended Shaddai and his Son,and partly because that the enemies thereby got strength withinthem afresh; and also because, though they had by many petitionsmade suit to the Prince Emmanuel, and to his Father Shaddai by him,for their pardon and favour, yet hitherto obtained they not onesmile; but contrariwise, through the craft and subtilty of thedomestic Diabolonians, their cloud was made to grow blacker andblacker, and their Emmanuel to stand at further distance.

The sickness also did still greatly rage in Mansoul, both among thecaptains and the inhabitants of the town; and their enemies onlywere now lively and strong, and likely to become the head, whilstMansoul was made the tail.

By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written by theDiabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, was conveyedto Diabolus in the black den, by the hand of Mr. Profane. Hecarried the letter by Hell-Gate Hill as afore, and conveyed it byCerberus to his lord.

But when Cerberus and Mr. Profane did meet, they were presently asgreat as beggars, and thus they fell into discourse about Mansoul,and about the project against her.

'Ah! old friend,' quoth Cerberus, 'art thou come to Hell-Gate Hillagain? By St. Mary, I am glad to see thee!'

Prof. Yes, my lord, I am come again about the concerns of the townof Mansoul.

Cerb. Prithee, tell me what condition is that town of Mansoul inat present?

Prof. In a brave condition, my lord, for us, and for my lords, thelords of this place, I trow for they are greatly decayed as togodliness, and that is as well as our heart can wish; their Lord isgreatly out with them, and that doth also please us well. We havealready also a foot in their dish, for our Diabolonian friends arelaid in their bosoms, and what do we lack but to be masters of theplace! Besides, our trusty friends in Mansoul are daily plottingto betray it to the lords of this town; also the sickness ragesbitterly among them; and that which makes up all, we hope at lastto prevail.'

Then said the dog of Hell-Gate, 'No time like this to assault them.I wish that the enterprise be followed close, and that the successdesired may be soon effected: yea, I wish it for the poorDiabolonians' sakes, that live in the continual fear of their livesin that traitorous town of Mansoul.'

Prof. The contrivance is almost finished, the lords in Mansoulthat are Diabolonians are at it day and night, and the other arelike silly doves; they want heart to be concerned with their stateand to consider that ruin is at hand. Besides you may, yea, mustthink, when you put all things together, that there are manyreasons that prevail with Diabolus to make what haste he can.

Cerb. Thou hast said as it is; I am glad things are at this pass.Go in, my brave Profane, to my lords, they will give thee for thywelcome as good a coranto as the whole of this kingdom will afford.I have sent thy letter in already.

Then Mr. Profane went into the den, and his lord Diabolus met him,and saluted him with, 'Welcome, my trusty servant: I have beenmade glad with thy letter.' The rest of the lords of the pit gavehim also their salutations. Then Profane, after obeisance made tothem all, said, 'Let Mansoul be given to my lord Diabolus, and lethim be her king for ever.' And with that, the hollow belly andyawning gorge of hell gave so loud and hideous a groan, (for thatis the music of that place,) that it made the mountains about ittotter, as if they would fall in pieces.

Now, after they had read and considered the letter, they consultedwhat answer to return; and the first that did speak to it wasLucifer.

Then said he, 'The first project of the Diabolonians in Mansoul islikely to be lucky, and to take; namely, that they will, by all theways and means they can, make Mansoul yet more vile and filthy: noway to destroy a soul like this. Our old friend Balaam went thisway and prospered many years ago; let this therefore stand with usfor a maxim, and be to Diabolonians for a general rule in all ages;for nothing can make this to fail but grace, in which I would hopethat this town has no share. But whether to fall upon them on amarket-day, because of their cumber in business, that I wouldshould be under debate. And there is more reason why this headshould be debated, than why some other should; because upon thiswill turn the whole of what we shall attempt. If we time not ourbusiness well, our whole project may fail. Our friends, theDiabolonians, say that a market-day is best; for then will Mansoulbe most busy, and have fewest thoughts of a surprise. But what ifalso they should double their guards on those days? (and methinksnature and reason should teach them to do it;) and what if theyshould keep such a watch on those days as the necessity of theirpresent case doth require? yea, what if their men should be alwaysin arms on those days? then you may, my lords, be disappointed inyour attempts, and may bring our friends in the town to utterdanger of unavoidable ruin.'

Then said the great Beelzebub, 'There is something in what my lordhath said; but his conjecture may, or may not fall out. Nor hathmy lord laid it down as that which must not be receded from; for Iknow that he said it only to provoke to a warm debate thereabout.Therefore we must understand, if we can, whether the town ofMansoul has such sense and knowledge of her decayed state, and ofthe design that we have on foot against her, as doth provoke her toset watch and ward at her gates, and to double them on market-days.But if, after inquiry made, it shall be found that they are asleep,then any day will do, but a market-day is best; and this is myjudgment in this case.'

Then quoth Diabolus, 'How should we know this?' and it wasanswered, 'Inquire about it at the mouth of Mr. Profane.' SoProfane was called in, and asked the question, and he made hisanswer as follows:-

Prof. My lords, so far as I can gather, this is at present thecondition of the town of Mansoul: they are decayed in their faithand love; Emmanuel, their Prince, has given them the back; theysend often by petition to fetch him again, but he maketh not hasteto answer their request, nor is there much reformation among them.

Diab. I am glad that they are backward in a reformation, but yet Iam afraid of their petitioning. However, their looseness of lifeis a sign that there is not much heart in what they do, and withoutthe heart things are little worth. But go on, my masters; I willdivert you, my lords, no longer.

Beel. If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr. Profane has describedit to be, it will be no great matter what day we assault it; nottheir prayers, nor their power will do them much service.

When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon did begin. 'Myopinion,' said he, 'concerning this matter, is, that we go on fairand softly, not doing things in a hurry. Let our friends inMansoul go on still to pollute and defile it, by seeking to draw ityet more into sin (for there is nothing like sin to devourMansoul). If this be done, and it takes effect, Mansoul, ofitself, will leave off to watch, to petition, or anything else thatshould tend to her security and safety; for she will forget herEmmanuel, she will not desire his company, and can she be gottenthus to live, her Prince will not come to her in haste. Our trustyfriend, Mr. Carnal-Security, with one of his tricks did drive himout of the town; and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my LordLasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of the town? Andthis I will tell you, (not because you know it not,) that two orthree Diabolonians, if entertained and countenanced by the town ofMansoul, will do more to the keeping of Emmanuel from them, andtowards making the town of Mansoul your own, than can an army of alegion that should be sent out from us to withstand him. Let,therefore, this first project that our friends in Mansoul have seton foot, be strongly and diligently carried on, with all cunningand craft imaginable; and let them send continually, under oneguise or another, more and other of their men to play with thepeople of Mansoul; and then, perhaps, we shall not need to be atthe charge of making a war upon them; or if that must of necessitybe done, yet the more sinful they are, the more unable, to be sure,they will be to resist us, and then the more easily we shallovercome them. And besides, suppose (and that is the worst thatcan be supposed) that Emmanuel should come to them again, why maynot the same means, or the like, drive him from them once more?Yea, why may he not, by their lapse into that sin again, be drivenfrom them for ever, for the sake of which he was at the firstdriven from them for a season? And if this should happen, thenaway go with him his rams, his slings, his captains, his soldiers,and he leaveth Mansoul naked and bare. Yea, will not this town,when she sees herself utterly forsaken of her Prince, of her ownaccord open her gates again unto you, and make of you as in thedays of old? But this must be done by time, a few days will noteffect so great a work as this.'

So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus began toblow out his own malice, and to plead his own cause; and he said,'My lords, and powers of the cave, my true and trusty friends, Ihave with much impatience, as becomes me, given ear to your longand tedious orations. But my furious gorge, and empty paunch, solusteth after a repossession of my famous town of Mansoul, thatwhatever comes out, I can wait no longer to see the events oflingering projects. I must, and that without further delay, seek,by all means I can, to fill my insatiable gulf with the soul andbody of the town of Mansoul. Therefore lend me your heads, yourhearts, and your help, now I am going to recover my town ofMansoul.'

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire thatwas in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul, they leftoff to raise any more objections, but consented to lend him whatstrength they could, though had Apollyon's advice been taken, theyhad far more fearfully distressed the town of Mansoul. But, I say,they were willing to lend him what strength they could, not knowingwhat need they might have of him, when they should engage forthemselves, as he. Wherefore they fell to advising about the nextthing propounded, namely, what soldiers they were, and also howmany, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of Mansoul totake it; and after some debate, it was concluded, according as inthe letter the Diabolonians had suggested, that none were more fitfor that expedition than an army of terrible doubters. Theytherefore concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdydoubters. The number thought fit to be employed in that servicewas between twenty and thirty thousand. So then the result of thatgreat council of those high and mighty lords was--That Diabolusshould even now, out of hand, beat up his drum for men in the landof Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines of the place calledHell-Gate Hill, for men that might be employed by him against themiserable town of Mansoul. It was also concluded, that these lordsthemselves should help him in the war, and that they would to thatend head and manage his men. So they drew up a letter, and sentback to the Diabolonians that lurked in Mansoul, and that waitedfor the back-coming of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into whatmethod and forwardness they at present had put their design. Thecontents whereof now follow:-

'From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diabolus with all thesociety of the princes of darkness, sends to our trusty ones, inand about the walls of the town of Mansoul, now impatiently waitingfor our most devilish answer to their venomous and most poisonousdesign against the town of Mansoul.

'Our native ones, in whom from day to day we boast, and in whoseactions all the year long we do greatly delight ourselves, wereceived your welcome, because highly esteemed letter, at the handof our trusty and greatly beloved, the old gentleman, Mr. Profane.And do give you to understand, that when we had broken it up, andhad read the contents thereof, to your amazing memory be it spoken,our yawning hollow-bellied place, where we are, made so hideous andyelling a noise for joy, that the mountains that stand round aboutHell-Gate Hill, had like to have been shaken to pieces at the soundthereof.

'We could also do no less than admire your faithfulness to us, withthe greatness of that subtilty that now hath showed itself to be inyour heads to serve us against the town of Mansoul. For you haveinvented for us so excellent a method for our proceeding againstthat rebellious people, a more effectual cannot be thought of byall the wits of hell. The proposals, therefore, which now, atlast, you have sent us, since we saw them, we have done little elsebut highly approved and admired them.

'Nay, we shall, to encourage you in the profundity of your craft,let you know, that, at a full assembly and conclave of our princesand principalities of this place, your project was discoursed andtossed from one side of our cave to the other by theirmightinesses; but a better, and as was by themselves judged, a morefit and proper way by all their wits, could not be invented, tosurprise, take, and make our own, the rebellious town of Mansoul.

'Wherefore, in fine, all that was said that varied from what youhad in your letter propounded, fell of itself to the ground, andyours only was stuck to by Diabolus, the prince; yea, his gapinggorge and yawning paunch was on fire to put your invention intoexecution.

'We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious, andunmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, and the ruin ofthe rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twenty thousand doubtersto come against that people. They are all stout and sturdy men,and men that of old have been accustomed to war, and that cantherefore well endure the drum. I say, he is doing this work ofhis with all the possible speed he can; for his heart and spirit isengaged in it. We desire, therefore, that, as you have hithertostuck to us, and given us both advice and encouragement thus far,you still will prosecute our design; nor shall you lose, but begainers thereby; yea, we intend to make you the lords of Mansoul.

'One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is, those with usdo desire that every one of you that are in Mansoul would still useall your power, cunning, and skill, with delusive persuasions, yetto draw the town of Mansoul into more sin and wickedness, even thatsin may be finished and bring forth death.

'For thus it is concluded with us, that the more vile, sinful, anddebauched the town of Mansoul is, more backward will be theirEmmanuel to come to their help, either by presence or other relief;yea, the more sinful, the more weak, and so the more unable willthey be to make resistance when we shall make our assault upon themto swallow them up. Yea, that may cause that their mighty Shaddaihimself may cast them out of his protection; yea, and send for hiscaptains and soldiers home, with his slings and rams, and leavethem naked and bare; and then the town of Mansoul will of itselfopen to us, and fall as the fig into the mouth of the eater. Yea,to be sure. that we then with a great deal of ease shall come uponher and overcome her.

'As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have notfully resolved upon that, though at present some of us think asyou, that a market-day, or a market-day at night, will certainly bethe best. However, do you be ready, and when you shall hear ourroaring drum without, do you be as busy to make the most horribleconfusion within. So shall Mansoul certainly be distressed beforeand behind, and shall not know which way to betake herself forhelp. My Lord Lucifer, my Lord Beelzebub, my Lord Apollyon, myLord Legion, with the rest, salute you, as does also my LordDiabolus; and we wish both you, with all that you do, or shallpossess, the very self-same fruit and success for their doing as weourselves at present enjoy for ours.

'From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, we salute you,and so do those many legions here with us, wishing you may be ashellishly prosperous as we desire to be ourselves. By the letter-carrier, Mr. Profane.'

Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul, withhis errand from the horrible pit to the Diabolonians that dwelt inthat town. So he came up the stairs from the deep to the mouth ofthe cave where Cerberus was. Now when Cerberus saw him, he askedhow did matters go below, about and against the town of Mansoul.

Prof. Things go as well as we can expect. The letter that Icarried thither was highly approved, and well liked by all mylords, and I am returning to tell our Diabolonians so. I have ananswer to it here in my bosom, that I am sure will make our mastersthat sent me glad; for the contents thereof are to encourage themto pursue their design to the utmost, and to be ready also to fallon within, when they shall see my Lord Diabolus beleaguering thetown of Mansoul.

Cerb. But does he intend to go against them himself?

Prof. Does he! Ay! and he will take along with him more thantwenty thousand, all sturdy Doubters, and men of war, picked menfrom the land of Doubting, to serve him in the expedition.

Then was Cerberus glad, and said, 'And is there such bravepreparations a-making to go against the miserable town of Mansoul?And would I might be put at the head of a thousand of them, that Imight also show my valour against the famous town of Mansoul.'

Prof. Your wish may come to pass; you look like one that hasmettle enough, and my lord will have with him those that arevaliant and stout. But my business requires haste.

Cerb. Ay, so it does. Speed thee to the town of Mansoul, with allthe deepest mischiefs that this place can afford thee. And whenthou shalt come to the house of Mr. Mischief, the place where theDiabolonians meet to plot, tell them that Cerberus doth wish themhis service, and that if he may, he will with the army come upagainst the famous town of Mansoul.

Prof. That I will. And I know that my lords that are there willbe glad to hear it, and to see you also.

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane took hisleave of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again, with a thousandof their pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all speed, to his masters.The which when he had heard, he made obeisance, and began to gatherup his heels to run.

Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul; andgoing, as afore, to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he found theDiabolonians assembled, and waiting for his return. Now when hewas come, and had presented himself, he also delivered to them hisletter, and adjoined this compliment to them therewith: 'My lords,from the confines of the pit, the high and mighty principalitiesand powers of the den salute you here, the true Diabolonians of thetown of Mansoul. Wishing you always the most proper of theirbenedictions, for the great service, high attempts, and braveachievements that you have put yourselves upon, for the restoringto our prince Diabolus the famous town of Mansoul.'

This was therefore the present state of the miserable town ofMansoul: she had offended her Prince, and he was gone; she hadencouraged the powers of hell, by her foolishness, to come againsther to seek her utter destruction.

True, the town of Mansoul was somewhat made sensible of her sin,but the Diabolonians were gotten into her bowels; she cried, butEmmanuel was gone, and her cries did not fetch him as yet again.Besides, she knew not now whether, ever or never, he would returnand come to his Mansoul again; nor did they know the power andindustry of the enemy, nor how forward they were to put inexecution that plot of hell that they had devised against her.

They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to the Prince,but he answered all with silence. They did neglect reformation,and that was as Diabolus would have it; for he knew, if theyregarded iniquity in their heart, their King would not hear theirprayer; they therefore did still grow weaker and weaker, and wereas a rolling thing before the whirlwind. They cried to their Kingfor help, and laid Diabolonians in their bosoms: what thereforeshould a King do to them? Yea, there seemed now to be a mixture inMansoul; the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians would walk thestreets together. Yea, they began to seek their peace; for theythought that, since the sickness had been so mortal in Mansoul, itwas in vain to go to handygripes with them. Besides, the weaknessof Mansoul was the strength of their enemies; and the sins ofMansoul, the advantage of the Diabolonians. The foes of Mansouldid also now begin to promise themselves the town for a possession:there was no great difference now betwixt Mansoulians andDiabolonians: both seemed to be masters of Mansoul. Yea, theDiabolonians increased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminishedgreatly. There were more than eleven thousand men, women, andchildren that died by the sickness in Mansoul.

But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose name was Mr.Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul. And he, as hismanner was, did go listening up and down in Mansoul to see, and tohear, if at any time he might, whether there was any design againstit or no. For he was always a jealous man, and feared somemischief sometime would befal it, either from the Diabolonianswithin, or from some power without. Now upon a time it sohappened, as Mr. Prywell went listening here and there, that helighted upon a place called Vilehill, in Mansoul, whereDiabolonians used to meet; so hearing a muttering, (you must knowthat it was in the night,) he softly drew near to hear; nor had hestood long under the house-end, (for there stood a house there,)but he heard one confidently affirm, that it was not, or would notbe long before Diabolus should possess himself again of Mansoul;and that then the Diabolonians did intend to put all Mansoulians tothe sword, and would kill and destroy the King's captains, anddrive all his soldiers out of the town. He said, moreover, that heknew there were above twenty thousand fighting men prepared byDiabolus for the accomplishing of this design, and that it wouldnot be months before they all should see it.

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe itwas true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor's house,and acquainted him therewith; who, sending for the subordinatepreacher, brake the business to him; and he as soon gave the alarmto the town; for he was now the chief preacher in Mansoul, because,as yet, my Lord Secretary was ill at ease. And this was the waythat the subordinate preacher did take to alarm the town therewith.The same hour he caused the lecture bell to be rung; so the peoplecame together: he gave them then a short exhortation towatchfulness, and made Mr. Prywell's news the argument thereof.'For,' said he, 'an horrible plot is contrived against Mansoul,even to massacre us all in a day, nor is this story to be slighted;for Mr. Prywell is the author thereof. Mr. Prywell was always alover of Mansoul, a sober and judicious man, a man that is notattler, nor raiser of false reports, but one that loves to lookinto the very bottom of matters, and talks nothing of news, but byvery solid arguments.

'I will call him, and you shall hear him your own selves;' so hecalled him, and he came and told his tale so punctually, andaffirmed its truth with such ample grounds, that Mansoul fellpresently under a conviction of the truth of what he said. Thepreacher did also back him, saying, 'Sirs, it is not irrational forus to believe it, for we have provoked Shaddai to anger, and havesinned Emmanuel out of the town; we have had too muchcorrespondence with Diabolonians, and have forsaken our formermercies: no marvel then, if the enemy both within and withoutshould design and plot our ruin; and what time like this to do it?The sickness is now in the town, and we have been made weakthereby. Many a good meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians oflate grow stronger and stronger.

'Besides,' quoth the subordinate preacher, 'I have received fromthis good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he understoodby those that he overheard, that several letters have lately passedbetween the furies and the Diabolonians in order to ourdestruction.' When Mansoul heard all this, and not being able togainsay it, they lift up their voice and wept. Mr. Prywell didalso, in the presence of the townsmen, confirm all that theirsubordinate preacher had said. Wherefore they now set afresh tobewail their folly, and to a doubling of petitions to Shaddai andhis Son. They also brake the business to the captains, highcommanders, and men of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating themto use the means to be strong, and to take good courage; and thatthey would look after their harness, and make themselves ready togive Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come, as theyare informed he will, to beleaguer the town of Mansoul.

When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers of thetown of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons they shakethemselves, and come together to consult and contrive how to defeatthose bold and hellish contrivances that were upon the wheel by themeans of Diabolus and his friends against the now sickly, weakly,and much impoverished town of Mansoul; and they agreed upon thesefollowing particulars:-

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made fastwith bars and locks, and that all persons that went out, or camein, should be very strictly examined by the captains of the guards,'to the end,' said they, 'that those that are managers of the plotamongst us, may, either coming or going, be taken; and that we mayalso find out who are the great contrivers, amongst us, of ourruin.'

2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made for allkind of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of Mansoul; and thatevery man's house from top to bottom should be looked into, andthat, too, house by house, that if possible a further discoverymight be made of all such among them as had a hand in thesedesigns.

3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or withwhomsoever any of the Diabolonians were found, that even those ofthe town of Mansoul that had given them house and harbour, shouldto their shame, and the warning of others, take penance in the openplace.

4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul, that apublic fast, and a day of humiliation, should be kept throughoutthe whole corporation, to the justifying of their Prince, theabasing of themselves before him for their transgressions againsthim, and against Shaddai, his Father. It was further resolved,that all such in Mansoul as did not on that day endeavour to keepthat fast, and to humble themselves for their faults, but thatshould mind their worldly employs, or be found wandering up anddown the streets, should be taken for Diabolonians, and shouldsuffer as Diabolonians for such their wicked doings.

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and withwhat warmth of mind they could, they would renew their humiliationfor sin, and their petitions to Shaddai for help; they alsoresolved, to send tidings to the court of all that Mr. Prywell hadtold them.

6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by the townof Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of the welfareof their town: and further, that forasmuch as he was so naturallyinclined to seek their good, and also to undermine their foes, theygave him a commission of scout-master-general, for the good of thetown of Mansoul.

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded, theydid as they had said; they shut up their gates, they made forDiabolonians strict search, they made those with whom any werefound to take penance in the open place: they kept their fast, andrenewed their petitions to their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managedhis charge and the trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, withgreat conscience and good fidelity; for he gave himself wholly upto his employ, and that not only within the town, but he went outto pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and wenttowards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters were,where he heard of all that had been talked of in Mansoul, and heperceived also that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, etc.So he came back with speed, and, calling the captains and elders ofMansoul together, he told them where he had been, what he hadheard, and what he had seen. Particularly, he told them thatDiabolus was almost ready for his march, and that he had made oldMr. Incredulity, that once brake prison in Mansoul, the, general ofhis army; that his army consisted all of Doubters, and that theirnumber was above twenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolusdid intend to bring with him the chief princes of the infernal pit,and that he would make them chief captains over his Doubters. Hetold them, moreover, that it was certainly true that several of theblack den would, with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce the townof Mansoul to the obedience of Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among whomhe had been, that the reason why old Incredulity was made generalof the whole army, was because none truer than he to the tyrant;and because he had an implacable spite against the welfare of thetown of Mansoul. Besides, said he, he remembers the affronts thatMansoul has given him, and he is resolved to be revenged of them.

But the black princes shall be made high commanders, onlyIncredulity shall be over them all; because, which I had almostforgot, he can more easily, and more dexterously, beleaguer thetown of Mansoul, than can any of the princes besides.

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the town, hadheard the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, they thought itexpedient, without further delay, to put into execution the lawsthat against the Diabolonians their Prince had made for them, andgiven them in commandment to manage against them. Wherefore,forthwith a diligent and impartial search was made in all houses inMansoul, for all and all manner of Diabolonians. Now, in the houseof Mr. Mind, and in the house of the great Lord Willbewill, weretwo Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mind's house was one LordCovetousness found; but he had changed his name to Prudent-Thrifty.In my Lord Willbewill's house, one Lasciviousness was found; but hehad changed his name to Harmless-Mirth. These two the captains andelders of the town of Mansoul took, and committed them to custodyunder the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handledthem so severely, and loaded them so well with irons, that in timethey both fell into a very deep consumption, and died in theprison-house; their masters also, according to the agreement of thecaptains and elders, were brought to take penance in the open placeto their shame, and for a warning to the rest of the town ofMansoul.

Now, this was the manner of penance in those days: the personsoffending being made sensible of the evil of their doings, wereenjoined open confession of their faults, and a strict amendment oftheir lives.

After this, the captains and elders of Mansoul sought yet to findout more Diabolonians, wherever they lurked, whether in dens,caves, holes, vaults, or where else they could, in or about thewall or town of Mansoul. But though they could plainly see theirfooting, and so follow them by their track and smell to theirholds, even to the mouths of their caves and dens, yet take them,hold them, and do justice upon them, they could not; their wayswere so crooked, their holds so strong, and they so quick to takesanctuary there.

But Mansoul did now with so stiff an hand rule over theDiabolonians that were left, that they were glad to shrink intocorners: time was when they durst walk openly, and in the day; butnow they were forced to embrace privacy and the night: time waswhen a Mansoulian was their companion; but now they counted themdeadly enemies. This good change did Mr. Prywell's intelligencemake in the famous town of Mansoul.

By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he intended tobring with him for the ruin of Mansoul; and had set over themcaptains, and other field officers, such as liked his furiousstomach best: himself was lord paramount, Incredulity was generalof his army, their highest captains shall be named afterwards; butnow for their officers, colours, and scutcheons.

1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain over theelection doubters, his were the red colours; his standard-bearerwas Mr. Destructive, and the great red dragon he had for hisscutcheon.

2. The second captain was Captain Fury: he was captain over thevocation doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr. Darkness, hiscolours were those that were pale, and he had for his scutcheon thefiery flying serpent.

3. The third captain was Captain Damnation: he was captain overthe grace doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. No-Life barethem, and he had for his scutcheon the black den.

4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable; he was captain overthe faith doubters: his were the red colours, Mr. Devourer barethem, and he had for a scutcheon the yawning jaws.

5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone: he was captain overthe perseverance doubters; his also were the red colours, Mr.Burning bare them, and his scutcheon was the blue and stinkingflame.

6. The sixth captain was Captain Torment: he was captain over theresurrection doubters; his colours were those that were pale; Mr.Gnaw was his standard-bearer, and he had the black worm for hisscutcheon.

7. The seventh captain was Captain No-Ease; he was captain over thesalvation doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. Restless barethem, and his scutcheon was the ghastly picture of death.

8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre: he was captainover the glory doubters; his also were the pale colours, Mr.Corruption was his standard-bearer, and he had for his scutcheon askull, and dead men's bones.

9. The ninth captain was Captain Past-Hope; he was captain of thosethat are called the felicity doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr.Despair; his also were the red colours, and his scutcheon was a hotiron and the hard heart.

These were his captains, and these were their forces, these weretheir standards, these were their colours, and these were theirscutcheons. Now, over these did the great Diabolus make superiorcaptains, and they were in number seven: as, namely, the LordBeelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon,the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial; theseseven he set over the captains, and Incredulity was lord-general,and, Diabolus was king. The reformades also, such as were likethemselves, were made some of them captains of hundreds, and someof them captains of more. And thus was the army of Incredulitycompleted.

So they set out at Hell-Gate Hill, for there they had theirrendezvous, from whence they came with a straight course upon theirmarch toward the town of Mansoul. Now, as was hinted before, thetown had, as Shaddai would have it, received from the mouth of Mr.Prywell the alarm of their coming before. Wherefore they set astrong watch at the gates, and had also doubled their guards: theyalso mounted their slings in good places, where they mightconveniently cast out their great stones to the annoyance of theirfurious enemy.

Nor could those Diabolonians that were in the town do that hurt aswas designed they should; for Mansoul was now awake. But alas!poor people, they were sorely affrighted at the first appearance oftheir foes, and at their sitting down before the town, especiallywhen they heard the roaring of their drum. This, to speak truth,was amazingly hideous to hear; it frighted all men seven milesround, if they were but awake and heard it. The streaming of theircolours was also terrible and dejecting to behold.

When Diabolus was come up against the town, first he made hisapproach to Ear-gate, and gave it a furious assault, supposing, asit seems, that his friends in Mansoul had been ready to do the workwithin; but care was taken of that before, by the vigilance of thecaptains. Wherefore, missing of the help that he expected fromthem, and finding his army warmly attended with the stones that theslingers did sling, (for that I will say for the captains, thatconsidering the weakness that yet was upon them by reason of thelong sickness that had annoyed the town of Mansoul, they didgallantly behave themselves,) he was forced to make some retreatfrom Mansoul, and to entrench himself and his men in the fieldwithout the reach of the slings of the town.

Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mounts againstthe town: the first he called Mount Diabolus, putting his own namethereon, the more to affright the town of Mansoul; the other threehe called thus--Mount Alecto, Mount Megara, and Mount Tisiphone;for these are the names of the dreadful furies of hell. Thus hebegan to play his game with Mansoul, and to serve it as doth thelion his prey, even to make it fall before his terror. But, as Isaid, the captains and soldiers resisted so stoutly, and did dosuch execution with their stones, that they made him, thoughagainst stomach, to retreat, wherefore Mansoul began to takecourage.

Now upon Mount Diabolus, which was raised on the north side of thetown, there did the tyrant set up his standard, and a fearful thingit was to behold; for he had wrought in it by devilish art, afterthe manner of a scutcheon, a flaming flame fearful to behold, andthe picture of Mansoul burning in it.

When Diabolus had thus done, he commanded that his drummer shouldevery night approach the walls of the town of Mansoul, and so tobeat a parley; the command was to do it at nights, for in thedaytime they annoyed him with their slings; for the tyrant said,that he had a mind to parley with the now trembling town ofMansoul, and he commanded that the drums should beat every night,that through weariness they might at last, if possible, (at thefirst they were unwilling yet,) be forced to do it.

So this drummer did as commanded: he arose, and did beat his drum.But when his drum did go, if one looked toward the town of Mansoul,'Behold darkness and sorrow, and the light was darkened in theheaven thereof.' No noise was ever heard upon earth more terrible,except the voice of Shaddai when he speaketh. But how did Mansoultremble! it now looked for nothing but forthwith to be swallowedup.

When this drummer had beaten for a parley, he made this speech toMansoul: 'My master has bid me tell you, that if you willwillingly submit, you shall have the good of the earth; but if youshall be stubborn, he is resolved to take you by force.' But bythat the fugitive had done beating his drum, the people of Mansoulhad betaken themselves to the captains that were in the castle, sothat there was none to regard, nor to give this drummer an answer;so he proceeded no further that night, but returned again to hismaster to the camp.

When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out Mansoul tohis will, the next night he sendeth his drummer without his drum,still to let the townsmen know that he had a mind to parley withthem. But when all came to all, his parley was turned into asummons to the town to deliver up themselves: but they gave himneither heed nor hearing: for they remembered what at first itcost them to hear him a few words.

The next night he sends again, and then who should be his messengerto Mansoul but the terrible Captain Sepulchre; so Captain Sepulchrecame up to the walls of Mansoul, and made this oration to thetown:-

'O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town of Mansoul! I summon youin the name of the Prince Diabolus, that, without any more ado, youset open the gates of your town, and admit the great lord to comein. But if you shall still rebel, when we have taken to us thetown by force, we will swallow you up as the grave; wherefore ifyou will hearken to my summons, say so, and if not then let meknow.

'The reason of this my summons,' quoth he, 'is, for that my lord isyour undoubted prince and lord, as you yourselves have formerlyowned. Nor shall that assault that was given to my lord, whenEmmanuel dealt so dishonourably by him, prevail with him to losehis right, and to forbear to attempt to recover his own. Consider,then, O Mansoul, with thyself, wilt thou show thyself peaceable, orno? If thou shalt quietly yield up thyself, then our oldfriendship shall be renewed; but if thou shalt yet refuse andrebel, then expect nothing but fire and sword.'

When the languishing town of Mansoul had heard this summoner andhis summons, they were yet more put to their dumps, but made to thecaptain no answer at all; so away he went as he came.

But, after some consultation among themselves, as also with some oftheir captains, they applied themselves afresh to the LordSecretary for counsel and advice from him; for this Lord Secretarywas their chief preacher, (as also is mentioned some pages before,)only now he was ill at ease; and of him they begged favour in thesetwo or three things -

1. That he would look comfortably upon them, and not keep himselfso much retired from them as formerly. Also, that he would beprevailed with to give them a hearing, while they should make knowntheir miserable condition to him. But to this he told them asbefore, that 'as yet he was but ill at ease, and therefore couldnot do as he had formerly done.'

2. The second thing that they desired was, that he would be pleasedto give them his advice about their now so important affairs, forthat Diabolus was come and set down before the town with no lessthan twenty thousand doubters. They said, moreover, that both heand his captains were cruel men, and that they were afraid of them.But to this he said, 'You must look to the law of the Prince, andthere see what is laid upon you to do.'

3. Then they desired that his highness would help them to frame apetition to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel his Son, and that he wouldset his own hand thereto as a token that he was one with them init: 'For,' said they, 'my Lord, many a one have we sent, but canget no answer of peace; but now, surely, one with thy hand unto itmay obtain good for Mansoul.'

But all the answer that he gave to this was, 'that they hadoffended their Emmanuel, and had also grieved himself, and thattherefore they must as yet partake of their own devices.'

This answer of the Lord Secretary fell like a millstone upon them;yea, it crushed them so that they could not tell what to do; yetthey durst not comply with the demands of Diabolus, nor with thedemands of his captain. So then here were the straits that thetown of Mansoul was betwixt, when the enemy came upon her: herfoes were ready to swallow her up, and her friends did forbear tohelp her.

Then stood up my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Understanding,and he began to pick and pick, until he had picked comfort out ofthat seemingly bitter saying of the Lord Secretary; for thus hedescanted upon it: 'First,' said he, 'this unavoidably followsupon the saying of my Lord, "that we must yet suffer for our sins."Secondly, But,' quoth he, 'the words yet sound as if at last weshould be saved from our enemies, and that after a few moresorrows, Emmanuel will come and be our help.' Now the Lord Mayorwas the more critical in his dealing with the Secretary's words,because my lord was more than a prophet, and because none of hiswords were such, but that at all times they were most exactlysignificant; and the townsmen were allowed to pry into them, and toexpound them to their best advantage.

So they took their leaves of my lord, and returned, and went, andcame to the captains, to whom they did tell what my Lord HighSecretary had said; who, when they had heard it, were all of thesame opinion as was my Lord Mayor himself. The captains,therefore, began to take some courage unto them, and to prepare tomake some brave attempt upon the camp of the enemy, and to destroyall that were Diabolonians, with the roving doubters that thetyrant had brought with him to destroy the poor town of Mansoul.

So all betook themselves forthwith to their places--the Captains totheirs, the Lord Mayor to his, the subordinate preacher to his, andmy Lord Willbewill to his. The captains longed to be at some workfor their prince; for they delighted in warlike achievements. Thenext day, therefore, they came together and consulted; and afterconsultation had, they resolved to give an answer to the captain ofDiabolus with slings; and so they did at the rising of the sun onthe morrow; for Diabolus had adventured to come nearer again, butthe sling-stones were to him and his like hornets. For as there isnothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible as the roaring ofDiabolus's drum, so there is nothing to Diabolus so terrible as thewell playing of Emmanuel's slings. Wherefore Diabolus was forcedto make another retreat, yet further off from the famous town ofMansoul. Then did the Lord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells to berung, 'and that thanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary bythe mouth of the subordinate preacher; for that by his words thecaptains and elders of Mansoul had been strengthened againstDiabolus.'

When Diabolus saw that his captains and soldiers, high lords andrenowned, were frightened, and beaten down by the stones that camefrom the golden slings of the Prince of the town of Mansoul, hebethought himself, and said, 'I will try to catch them by fawning,I will try to flatter them into my net.'

Wherefore, after a while, he came down again to the wall, not nowwith his drum, nor with Captain Sepulchre; but having all besugaredhis lips, he seemed to be a very sweet-mouthed, peaceable prince,designing nothing for humour's sake, nor to be revenged on Mansoulfor injuries by them done to him; but the welfare, and good, andadvantage of the town and people therein was now, as he said, hisonly design. Wherefore, after he had called for audience, anddesired that the townsfolk would give it to him, he proceeded inhis oration, and said:-

'Oh, the desire of my heart, the famous town of Mansoul! how manynights have I watched, and how many weary steps have I taken, ifperhaps I might do thee good! Far be it, far be it from me todesire to make a war upon you; if ye will but willingly and quietlydeliver up yourselves unto me. You know that you were mine of old.Remember also, that so long as you enjoyed me for your lord, andthat I enjoyed you for my subjects, you wanted for nothing of allthe delights of the earth, that I, your lord and prince, could getfor you, or that I could invent to make you bonny and blithewithal. Consider, you never had so many hard, dark, troublesome,and heart-afflicting hours, while you were mine, as you have hadsince you revolted from me; nor shall you ever have peace again,until you and I become one as before. But, be but prevailed withto embrace me again, and I will grant, yea, enlarge your oldcharter with abundance of privileges; so that your license andliberty shall be to take, hold, enjoy, and make your own all thatis pleasant from the east to the west. Nor shall any of thoseincivilities, wherewith you have offended me, be ever charged uponyou by me, so long as the sun and moon endure. Nor shall any ofthose dear friends of mine that now, for the fear of you, lielurking in dens, and holes, and caves in Mansoul, be hurtful to youany more; yea, they shall be your servants, and shall minister untoyou of their substance, and of whatever shall come to hand. I needspeak no more; you know them, and have sometime since been muchdelighted in their company. Why, then, should we abide at suchodds? Let us renew our old acquaintance and friendship again.

'Bear with your friend; I take the liberty at this time to speakthus freely unto you. The love that I have to you presses me to doit, as also does the zeal of my heart for my friends with you: putme not therefore to further trouble, nor yourselves to furtherfears and frights. Have you I will, in a way of peace or war; nordo you flatter yourselves with the power and force of yourcaptains, or that your Emmanuel will shortly come in to your help;for such strength will do you no pleasure.

'I am come against you with a stout and valiant army, and all thechief princes of the den are even at the head of it. Besides, mycaptains are swifter than eagles, stronger than lions, and moregreedy of prey than are the evening wolves. What is Og of Bashan!what is Goliath of Gath! and what are an hundred more of them, toone of the least of my captains! How, then, shall Mansoul think toescape my hand and force?'

Diabolus having thus handed his flattering, fawning, deceitful, andlying speech to the famous town of Mansoul, the Lord Mayor repliedto him as follows: 'O Diabolus, prince of darkness, and master ofall deceit; thy lying flatteries we have had and made sufficientprobation of, and have tasted too deeply of that destructive cupalready. Should we therefore again hearken unto thee, and so breakthe commandments of our great Shaddai, to join in affinity withthee, would not our Prince reject us, and cast us off for ever?And, being cast off by him, can the place that he has prepared forthee be a place of rest for us? Besides, O thou that art empty andvoid of all truth, we are rather ready to die by thy hand, than tofall in with thy flattering and lying deceits.'

When the tyrant saw that there was little to be got by parleyingwith my Lord Mayor, he fell into an hellish rage, and resolved thatagain, with his army of doubters, he would another time assault thetown of Mansoul.

So he called for his drummer, who beat up for his men (and while hedid beat, Mansoul did shake) to be in a readiness to give battle tothe corporation: then Diabolus drew near with his army, and thusdisposed of his men. Captain Cruel and Captain Torment, these hedrew up and placed against Feel-gate, and commanded them to sitdown there for the war. And he also appointed that, if need were,Captain No-Ease should come in to their relief. At Nose-gate heplaced the Captain Brimstone and Captain Sepulchre, and bid themlook well to their ward, on that side of the town of Mansoul. Butat Eye-gate he placed that grim-faced one, the Captain Past-Hope,and there also now he did set up his terrible standard.

Now Captain Insatiable, he was to look to the carriages ofDiabolus, and was also appointed to take into custody that, orthose persons and things, that should at any time as prey be takenfrom the enemy.

Now Mouth-gate the inhabitants of Mansoul kept for a sally-port;wherefore that they kept strong; for that it was it by and out atwhich the townsfolk did send their petitions to Emmanuel theirPrince. That also was the gate from the top of which the captainsdid play their slings at the enemies; for that gate stood somewhatascending, so that the placing of them there, and the letting ofthem fly from that place, did much execution against the tyrant'sarmy. Wherefore, for these causes, with others, Diabolus sought,if possible, to land up Mouth-gate with dirt.

Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to make hisassault upon the town of Mansoul, without, so the captains andsoldiers in the corporation were as busy in preparing within; theymounted their slings, they set up their banners, they sounded theirtrumpets, and put themselves in such order as was judged most forthe annoyance of the enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, andgave to their soldiers orders to be ready at the sound of thetrumpet for war. The Lord Willbewill also, he took the charge ofwatching against the rebels within, and to do what he could to takethem while without, or to stifle them within their caves, dens, andholes in the town-wall of Mansoul. And, to speak the truth of him,ever since he took penance for his fault, he has showed as muchhonesty and bravery of spirit as any he in Mansoul; for he took oneJolly, and his brother Griggish, the two sons of his servantHarmless-Mirth, (for to that day, though the father was committedto ward, the sons had a dwelling in the house of my lord,)--I say,he took them, and with his own hands put them to the cross. Andthis was the reason why he hanged them up: after their father wasput into the hands of Mr. True-Man the gaoler, they, his sons,began to play his pranks, and to be ticking and toying with thedaughters of their lord; nay, it was jealoused that they were toofamiliar with them, the which was brought to his lordship's ear.Now his lordship being unwilling unadvisedly to put any man todeath, did not suddenly fall upon them, but set watch and spies tosee if the thing was true; of the which he was soon informed, forhis two servants, whose names were Find-Out and Tell-All, catchedthem together in uncivil manner more than once or twice, and wentand told their lord. So when my Lord Willbewill had sufficientground to believe the thing was true, he takes the two youngDiabolonians, (for such they were, for their father was aDiabolonian born,) and has them to Eye-gate, where he raised a veryhigh cross, just in the face of Diabolus, and of his army, andthere he hanged the young villains, in defiance to Captain Past-Hope, and of the horrible standard of the tyrant.

Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill did greatlyabash Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fearinto the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul, and put strength andcourage into the captains that belonged to Emmanuel, the Prince;for they without did gather, and that by this very act of my Lord,that Mansoul was resolved to fight, and that the Diabolonianswithin the town could not do such things as Diabolus had hopes theywould. Nor was this the only proof of the brave Lord Willbewill'shonesty to the town, nor of his loyalty to his Prince, as willafterwards appear.

Now, when the children of Prudent-Thrifty, who dwelt with Mr. Mind,(for Thrift left children with Mr. Mind, when he was also committedto prison, and their names were Gripe and Rake-All; these he begatof Mr. Mind's bastard daughter, whose name was Mrs. Hold-fast-Bad;)--I say, when his children perceived how the Lord Willbewillhad served them that dwelt with him, what do they but, lest theyshould drink of the same cup, endeavour to make their escape. ButMr. Mind, being wary of it, took them and put them in hold in hishouse till morning; (for this was done over night;) and rememberingthat by the law of Mansoul all Diabolonians were to die, (and to besure they were at least by father's side such, and some say bymother's side too,) what does he but takes them and puts them inchains, and carries them to the selfsame place where my lord hangedhis two before, and there he hanged them.

The townsmen also took great encouragement at this act of Mr. Mind,and did what they could to have taken some more of theseDiabolonian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest lay sosquat and close, that they could not be apprehended; so they setagainst them a diligent watch, and went every man to his place.

I told you a little before, that Diabolus and his army weresomewhat abashed and discouraged at the sight of what my LordWillbewill did, when he hanged up those two young Diabolonians; buthis discouragement quickly turned itself into furious madness andrage against the town of Mansoul, and fight it he would. Also thetownsmen and captains within, they had their hopes and theirexpectations heightened, believing at last the day would be theirs;so they feared them the less. Their subordinate preacher, too,made a sermon about it; and he took that theme for his text, 'Gad,a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.'Whence he showed, that though Mansoul should be sorely put to it atthe first, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul's atthe last.

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge againstthe town; and the captains also that were in the town sounded acharge against them, but they had no drum: they were trumpets ofsilver with which they sounded against them. Then they which wereof the camp of Diabolus came down to the town to take it, and thecaptains in the castle, with the slingers at Mouth-gate, playedupon them amain. And now there was nothing heard in the camp ofDiabolus but horrible rage and blasphemy; but in the town goodwords, prayer, and singing of psalms. The enemy replied withhorrible objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but thetown made answer with the slapping of their slings, and themelodious noise of their trumpets. And thus the fight lasted forseveral days together, only now and then they had some smallintermission, in the which the townsmen refreshed themselves, andthe captains made ready for another assault.

The captains of Emmanuel were clad in silver armour, and thesoldiers in that which was of proof; the soldiers of Diabolus wereclad in iron which was made to give place to Emmanuel's engine-shot. In the town, some were hurt, and some were greatly wounded.Now, the worst of it was, a chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul, forthat Emmanuel at present was absent. Howbeit, with the leaves of atree the wounded were kept from dying; yet their wounds did greatlyputrefy, and some did grievously stink. Of the townsmen, thesewere wounded, namely, my Lord Reason; he was wounded in the head.Another that was wounded was the brave Lord Mayor; he was woundedin the eye. Another that was wounded was Mr. Mind; he received hiswound about the stomach. The honest subordinate preacher also, hereceived a shot not far off the heart but none of these weremortal.

Many also of the inferior sort were not only wounded but slainoutright.

Now, in the camp of Diabolus were wounded and slain a considerablenumber; for instance, Captain Rage, he was wounded, and so wasCaptain Cruel. Captain Damnation was made to retreat, and tointrench himself further off of Mansoul. The standard also ofDiabolus was beaten down, and his standard-bearer, Captain Much-Hurt, had his brains beat out with a sling-stone, to the no littlegrief and shame of his prince Diabolus.

Many also of the doubters were slain outright, though enough ofthem were left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. Now thevictory that day being turned to Mansoul, did put great valour intothe townsmen and captains, and did cover Diabolus's camp with acloud, but withal it made them far more furious. So the next dayMansoul rested, and commanded that the bells should be rung; thetrumpets also joyfully sounded, and the captains shouted round thetown.

My Lord Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable servicewithin against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were in thetown, not only by keeping them in awe, for he lighted on one atlast whose name was Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom mention was madebefore; for it was he, if you remember, that brought the threefellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians took out of CaptainBoanerges's companies, and that persuaded them to list themselvesunder the tyrant, to fight against the army of Shaddai. My LordWillbewill did also take a notable Diabolonian, whose name wasLoose-Foot: this Loose-Foot was a scout to the vagabonds inMansoul, and that did use to carry tidings out of Mansoul to thecamp, and out of the camp to those of the enemies in Mansoul. Boththese my lord sent away safe to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, with acommandment to keep them in irons; for he intended then to havethem out to be crucified, when it would be for the best to thecorporation, and most for the discouragement of the camp of theenemies.

My Lord Mayor also, though he could not stir about so much asformerly, because of the wound that he lately received, yet gave heout orders to all that were the natives of Mansoul, to look totheir watch, and stand upon their guard, and, as occasion shouldoffer, to prove themselves men.

Mr. Conscience, the preacher, he also did his utmost to keep allhis good documents alive upon the hearts of the people of Mansoul.

Well, awhile after, the captains and stout ones of the town ofMansoul agreed and resolved upon a time to make a sally out uponthe camp of Diabolus, and this must be done in the night; and therewas the folly of Mansoul, (for the night is always the best for theenemy, but the worst for Mansoul to fight in,) but yet they woulddo it, their courage was so high; their last victory also stillstuck in their memories.

So the night appointed being come, the Prince's brave captains castlots who should lead the van in this new and desperate expeditionagainst Diabolus, and against his Diabolonian army; and the lotfell to Captain Credence, to Captain Experience, and to CaptainGood-Hope, to lead the forlorn hope. (This Captain Experience thePrince created such when himself did reside in the town ofMansoul.) So, as I said, they made their sally out upon the armythat lay in the siege against them; and their hap was to fall inwith the main body of their enemies. Now Diabolus and his menbeing expertly accustomed to night-work, took the alarm presently,and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had sent themword of their coming. Wherefore to it they went amain, and blowswere hard on every side; the hell drum also was beat mostfuriously, while the trumpets of the Prince most sweetly sounded.And thus the battle was joined; and Captain Insatiable looked tothe enemy's carriages, and waited when he should receive some prey.

The Prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed couldbe expected they should; they wounded many; they made the wholearmy of Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but thebrave Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience,as they were upon the pursuit, cutting down, and following hardafter the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, bywhich fall he caught so great a hurt, that he could not rise tillCaptain Experience did help him up, at which their men were put indisorder. The captain also was so full of pain, that he could notforbear but aloud to cry out: at this, the other two captainsfainted, supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortalwound; their men also were more disordered, and had no list tofight. Now Diabolus being very observing, though at this time asyet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made amongthe men that were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it forgranted that the captains were either wounded or dead, he thereforemakes at first a stand, then faces about, and so comes up upon thePrince's army with as much of his fury as hell could help him to;and his hap was to fall in just among the three captains, CaptainCredence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience, and did cut,wound, and pierce them so dreadfully, that what throughdiscouragement, what through disorder, and what through the woundsthat they had received, and also the loss of much blood, theyscarce were able, though they had for their power the three besthands in Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again.

Now, when the body of the Prince's army saw how these threecaptains were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom tomake as safe and good a retreat as they could, and so returned bythe sally-port again; and so there was an end of this presentaction. But Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, thathe promised himself, in few days, an easy and complete conquestover the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on the day following, he comesup to the sides thereof with great boldness, and demands entrance,and that forthwith they deliver themselves up to his government.The Diabolonians, too, that were within, they began to be somewhatbrisk, as we shall show afterward.

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must get byforce; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive, (though heat present was not so with them as they wished,) they should neverconsent to yield Mansoul up to another.

And with that the Lord Willbewill stood up, and said, 'Diabolus,thou master of the den, and enemy to all that is good, we poorinhabitants of the town of Mansoul are too well acquainted with thyrule and government, and with the end of those things that forcertain will follow submitting to thee, to do it. Wherefore thoughwhile we were without knowledge we suffered thee to take us, (asthe bird that saw not the snare fell into the hands of the fowler,)yet since we have been turned from darkness to light, we have alsobeen turned from the power of Satan to God. And though through thysubtlety, and also the subtlety of the Diabolonians within, we havesustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into muchperplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield toso horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not; die upon the place wechoose rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in timedeliverance will come from court unto us, and therefore we yet willmaintain a war against thee.'

This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also of theLord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus, though itkindled the fury of his rage. It also succoured the townsmen andcaptains; yea, it was as a plaster to the brave Captain Credence'swound; for you must know that a brave speech now (when the captainsof the town with their men of war came home routed, and when theenemy took courage and boldness at the success that he had obtainedto draw up to the walls, and demand entrance, as he did) was inseason, and also advantageous.

The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for while thecaptains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in thetown, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonian found, they wereforced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also the edge ofhis penetrating sword: many therefore of the Diabolonians hewounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, andthe Lord Murmur; several also of the meaner sort he did sorelymaim; though there cannot at this time an account be given you ofany that he slew outright. The cause, or rather the advantage thatmy Lord Willbewill had at this time to do thus, was for that thecaptains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field. 'For now,'thought the Diabolonians within, 'is our time to stir and make anuproar in the town.' What do they therefore but quickly getthemselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning inMansoul, as if now nothing but whirlwind and tempest should bethere. Wherefore, as I said, he takes this opportunity to fall inamong them with his men, cutting and slashing with courage that wasundaunted; at which the Diabolonians with all haste dispersedthemselves to their holds, and my lord to his place as before.

This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong done byDiabolus to the captains, and also did let them know that Mansoulwas not to be parted with for the loss of a victory or two;wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again, as toboasting,--I mean in comparison of what he would have done, if theDiabolonians had put the town to the same plight to which he hadput the captains.

Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout with Mansoul.'For,' thought he, 'since I beat them once, I may beat them twice.'Wherefore he commanded his men to be ready at such an hour of thenight, to make a fresh assault upon the town; and he gave it out inspecial that they should bend all their force against Feel-gate,and attempt to break into the town through that. The word thatthen he did give to his officers and soldiers was Hell-fire.'And,' said he, 'if we break in upon them, as I wish we do, eitherwith some, or with all our force, let them that break in look toit, that they forget not the word. And let nothing be heard in thetown of Mansoul but, "Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!"' Thedrummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the standard-bearerswere to display their colours; the soldiers, too, were to put onwhat courage they could, and to see that they played manfully theirparts against the town.

So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant made ready forthe work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-gate, and afterhe had awhile struggled there, he throws the gate wide open: forthe truth is, those gates were but weak, and so most easily made toyield. When Diabolus had thus far made his attempt, he placed hiscaptains (namely, Torment and No-Ease) there; so he attempted topress forward, but the Prince's captains came down upon him, andmade his entrance more difficult than he desired. And, to speaktruth, they made what resistance they could; but the three of theirbest and most valiant captains being wounded, and by their woundsmade much incapable of doing the town that service they would, (andall the rest having more than their hands full of the doubters, andtheir captains that did follow Diabolus,) they were overpoweredwith force, nor could they keep them out of the town. Whereforethe Prince's men and their captains betook themselves to thecastle, as to the stronghold of the town: and this they did partlyfor their own security, partly for the security of the town, andpartly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel the prerogative-royal of Mansoul; for so was the castle of Mansoul.

The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy,without much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of thetown, and spreading themselves as they went into every corner, theycried out as they marched, according to the command of the tyrant,'Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!' so that nothing for a whilethroughout the town of Mansoul could be heard but the direful noiseof 'Hell-fire!' together with the roaring of Diabolus's drum. Andnow did the clouds hang black over Mansoul, nor to reason didanything but ruin seem to attend it. Diabolus also quartered hissoldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul.Yea, the subordinate preacher's house was as full of theseoutlandish doubters as ever it could hold, and so was my LordMayor's, and my Lord Willbewill's also. Yea, where was there acorner, a cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not full ofthese vermin? Yea, they turned the men of the town out of theirhouses, and would lie in their beds, and sit at their tablesthemselves. Ah, poor Mansoul! now thou feelest the fruits of sin,yea, what venom was in the flattering words of Mr. Carnal-Security!They made great havoc of whatever they laid their hands on; yea,they fired the town in several places; many young children alsowere by them dashed in pieces; and those that were yet unborn theydestroyed in their mothers' wombs: for you must needs think thatit could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity, whatbowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandishdoubters? Many in Mansoul that were women, both young and old,they forced, ravished, and beastlike abused, so that they swooned,miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the top of everystreet, and in all by-places of the town.

And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, anemblem of hell, and a place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul liealmost like the barren wilderness; nothing but nettles, briars,thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to cover the face ofMansoul. I told you before, how that these Diabolonian doubtersturned the men of Mansoul out of their beds, and now I will add,they wounded them, they mauled them, yea, and almost brained manyof them. Many did I say, yea most, if not all of them. Mr.Conscience they so wounded, yea, and his wounds so festered, thathe could have no ease day nor night, but lay as if continually upona rack; but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had slain himoutright. Mr. Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put outhis eyes; and had not my Lord Willbewill got into the castle, theyintended to have chopped him all to pieces; for they did look uponhim, as his heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that wasin Mansoul against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath shownhimself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear ofafterwards.

Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, andscarcely have seen one in the town that looked like a religiousman. Oh, the fearful state of Mansoul now! now every cornerswarmed with outlandish doubters; red-coats and black-coats walkedthe town by clusters, and filled up all the houses with hideousnoises, vain songs, lying stories, and blasphemous language againstShaddai and his Son. Now also those Diabolonians that lurked inthe walls and dens and holes that were in the town of Mansoul, cameforth and showed themselves; yea, walked with open face in companywith the doubters that were in Mansoul. Yea, they had moreboldness now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to showthemselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of thenow woful town of Mansoul.

But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace in Mansoul;for they were not there entertained as were the captains and forcesof Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat them what they could; nordid they partake or make stroy of any of the necessaries ofMansoul, but that which they seized on against the townsmen's will:what they could, they hid from them, and what they could not, theyhad with an ill-will. They, poor hearts! had rather have had theirroom than their company; but they were at present their captives,and their captives for the present they were forced to be. But, Isay, they discountenanced them as much as they were able, andshowed them all the dislike that they could.

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual playwith their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the minds of theenemies. True, Diabolus made a great many attempts to have brokenopen the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fear was made thekeeper of that; and he was a man of that courage, conduct, andvalour, that it was in vain, as long as life lasted within him, tothink to do that work, though mostly desired; wherefore all theattempts that Diabolus made against him were fruitless. I havewished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the townof Mansoul.

Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about twoyears and a half: the body of the town was the seat of war, thepeople of the town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoulwas laid in the dust. What rest, then, could be to theinhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what sun couldshine upon it? Had the enemy lain so long without in the plainagainst the town, it had been enough to have famished them: butnow, when they shall be within, when the town shall be their tent,their trench and fort against the castle that was in the town; when